Olympian and Other Eritreans Freed After Nearly Two Decades Without Trial, Family Members Say
A group of thirteen people held for over 18 years without trial in Eritrea have been freed from a notorious military prison, according to family members of the prisoners.
Those released were a number of well-known individuals, including elderly Olympic athlete and entrepreneur Zeragaber Gebrehiwot.
They had been incarcerated at Mai Serwa prison, renowned for its severe environment and where many inmates are considered detained for political reasons.
Details of the Arrest
An unnamed source who was once detained in Mai Serwa stated the prisoners were taken into custody in October 2007 after an attempted assassination on a high-ranking state security official in the government.
Approximately thirty individuals were initially detained, per the source. Some have been released over the years, but roughly two dozen stayed imprisoned.
The Story of an Athlete
Zeragaber raced in the Moscow Games in 1980 when Eritrea was part of Ethiopia.
The nation in the Horn of Africa, which gained its independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a strong cycling culture and its cyclists have increasingly earned international recognition over the past decade.
List of Freed
The individuals freed alongside Zeragaber comprise notable entrepreneurs Tesfalem Mengsteab and Bekure Mebrahtu as well as the Habtemariam brothers - David, an engineer, and Matthews, a geometrist.
A half-dozen high-level police officials and an internal security agent were also freed.
The Eritrean government has not issued any statement concerning the releases.
Many of them are sick and this could explain why they have been freed now.
Relatives were prohibited to visit the prisoners throughout their detention, the relatives said.
Global Condemnation and Prison Conditions
The UN and human rights groups have long accused the Eritrean government of gross human rights violations, including ill-treatment, forced disappearance and the imprisonment of tens of thousands of people in deplorable circumstances.
Mai Serwa prison, situated about 9km north-west of the capital, Asmara, has grown over the years to incorporate 20 metal shipping containers in which prisoners are held incommunicado, sources have indicated.
Context of Political Rule
Over the last three decades, Eritrea has remained a one-party state with no functioning constitution. It is one of the most militarized countries, with indefinite military conscription.
There has been an absence of independent media since the shutdown of private publications and detention of most of their staff in 2001.
This was when the government detained 15 politicians known as the G-15, along with 16 journalists, after they demanded that the head of state implement the draft constitution and conduct democratic polls.
Per advocacy organizations, the status and location of 11 of the politicians, as well as the journalists accused of links to the G-15, are still unconfirmed.
Now 79 years old, the president marked 32 years in office and has yet to participate in an election.
